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Beta Alpha Psi 

Bylaws

CONSTITUTION and BYLAWS
Theta Pi Chapter
Beta Alpha Psi
Missouri State University, Springfield, Mo.

ARTICLE I - IDENTIFICATION

The name of the organization shall be Beta Alpha Psi, Theta Pi Chapter, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri; hereinafter referred to as "the chapter."

ARTICLE II - PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1. Beta Alpha Psi, an honor society, is the national scholastic and professional business financial information organization. Its stated purpose is to encourage and to recognize scholastic and professional excellence in the fields of accounting, finance, or information systems.

Section 2. The objectives of the organization are:

  1. to provide a professional association for students with common career expectations;
  2. to provide interactions between students and faculty members outside the classroom setting;
  3. to instill in its members a desire for self-improvement;
  4. to foster high ethical and moral standards in its members;
  5. to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence;
  6. to cultivate a sense of responsibility and service in its members;
  7. to promote the collegiate study of financial information processing;
  8. to provide opportunities for association among its members and business professionals.

ARTICLE III - CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in the chapter shall be limited to those of good character. There shall be four classes of membership: student, faculty, honorary, and alumnus. The last two classes shall not be eligible to vote or hold office.

Section 2. Members of the chapter enrolled as students at Missouri State University, Springfield, Mo. shall be designated as student members.

Section 3. Members of the chapter who are on the instructional, research, or administrative staff of Missouri State University shall be designated as faculty members.

Section 4. Members of the chapter who are at the time of their initiation neither students nor faculty at Missouri State University shall be designated as honorary members.

Section 5. Members of the chapter once classified as student or faculty members who are no longer associated with Missouri State University shall be designated as alumnus members.

 

ARTICLE IV - ELIGIBILITY TO PLEDGE

Section 1. Students shall be eligible for pledging after they have:
  • declared (or stated an intention to declare) a concentration in accounting, finance, or information systems;
  • completed 45 credit hours of collegiate courses, and
  • have attained a cumulative grade of at least 3.25(where A is equal to 4.0) or the equivalent.
Section 2. Individuals may continue as Pledges so long as they remain active in the chapter. Pledges may remain Pledges until eligible for membership under Article V. At that point they must have satisfied all the requirements for membership and be initiated or be dropped as a Pledge. Pledges will cease to be classified as pledges when they no longer have a declared area of concentration in accounting, finance, or information systems.

ARTICLE V - ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Undergraduate students shall be eligible for election to membership in the chapter after they:
  1. Have been accepted as an accounting, finance, or information systems degree candidate,
  2. Have completed, in addition to two years of collegiate courses, at least one upper level course or its equivalent beyond the business core in their major (any student completing a class that is equivalent to an upper-level course in his/her major should notify the faculty advisor to determine qualification),
    1. All students, including transfer students, the most recent qualifying course must be at the initiating institution or another AACSB accredited institution
  3. Have attained a cumulative GPA in upper level courses in their declared major of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, and
  4. Have met one or more of the following:
    1. Have a cumulative average in all subjects completed of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale
    2. Have achieved a rank within the top 35% of their university class,
    3. Have attained at least a 3.50 on a 4.0 scale cumulative GPA on the most recent 30 semester hours.
  5. Have adequately completed a pledge program of at least one calendar semester.
  6. Students are not eligible to pledge in the semester of their graduation.
Section 2. Graduate students shall be eligible for election to membership after they:
  1. Have declared a concentration in accounting, finance, or information systems.
  2. Have completed at least one semester of graduate business study.
  3. Have attained a cumulative grade average in accounting, finance, or information systems courses taken as a graduate student of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent, and
  4. Have a cumulative average in all graduate subjects completed of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent.
  5. Have adequately completed a pledge program of at least one calendar semester.
  6. Students are not eligible to pledge in the semester of their graduation.

Section 3. After successful completion of the pledge program, degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students shall be eligible as student members.

Section 4. Full-time members of the accounting finance, and information systems faculty shall be eligible as faculty members.

Section 5. Persons who have achieved prominence in the field of accounting and who possess those qualities that Beta Alpha Psi fosters may be elected as honorary members.

Section 6. Candidates for membership must be present for the initiation ceremony. Initiation in absentia shall not be permitted. The official ritual must be used.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS AND POLICIES

Section 1. Meetings shall be held to achieve those purposes referred to in Article II.

Section 2. The chapter will meet at least bi-monthly, a minimum of sixteen times during the academic year.

Section 3. One meeting during the year will be the annual initiation of officers.

Section 4. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the executive committee of this chapter.

Section 5. Business meetings will be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, except as modified by these bylaws. A quorum for either a regular or special business meeting will consist of forty percent of the active members of the chapter. A simple majority of the student and faculty members present and voting will be required to pass a motion or resolution before the association at any business meeting unless stated otherwise in the constitution or bylaws.

Section 6. A member of the Chapter may be expelled for conduct detrimental to the purposes or interests of the association. Such proceedings must be initiated in writing and must comply with the provisions and procedures as set forth in Article XIX of the National Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 7. Each student member of the chapter shall pay dues of $50.00 per semester. Dues are to be paid at the second organizational meeting of the semester. If not paid within one month from the date of the second meeting, the member will be dropped from the organization. If extenuating circumstances exist, a member may appeal to the Executive Board within the one month payment period for an extension.

ARTICLE VII – OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 1. The chapter will have five officers. All offices shall be held by Student member. The executive power will be vested in these officers, and they will have the power to act in all matters except revision of the constitution, election or expulsion of members, and nominations and elections of officers. A quorum of the Executive Committee will consist of the five elected officers: President, Vice- President, Reporting Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer for officer meetings. A quorum is necessary to conduct business and make decisions during an officer's meeting. In the event that one of the five officers named above is absent, one Director may be allowed to replace the vote of the one officer.

Section 2. The duties of the Chapter PRESIDENT are:

  1. To call and preside at meetings of the chapter and of the executive committee;
  2. To appoint such committees as the constitution or bylaws, or vote of the chapter shall provide;
  3. Determine that all reporting responsibilities and other duties of the officers are performed in accordance with the National Constitution and Bylaws;
  4. To promote the welfare of the chapter and the organization;
  5. To perform such other duties as may reasonably fall within this office position

Section 3. The duties of the Chapter VICE-PRESIDENT are:

  1. Determine that all reporting responsibilities and other duties of the Directors are performed in accordance with the Chapter's Constitution and Bylaws;
  2. Maintain alumni records and contacts.
  3. Assist the president in the performance of prescribed duties;
  4. To act in the president's place in the event of absence or incapacity;
  5. To oversee the activities of committees not specifically assigned to other officer positions;
  6. To perform such other duties as may reasonably fall within this position, or as assigned by the President.

Section 4. The duties of the chapter RECORDING SECRETARY are:

  1. To keep official minutes of the chapter, including copies of all committee reports;
  2. To perform such other duties as may reasonably fall within this position, or as assigned by the President.

Section 5. The duties of the chapter REPORTING SECRETARY are:

  1. To transmit to the national secretary of Beta Alpha Psi any information and reports so desired as instructed in the organization's national constitution;
  2. To perform such other duties as may reasonably fall within this position, or as assigned by the President.

Section 6. The duties of the chapter TREASURER are:

  1. To collect money owed to the chapter;
  2. To disburse funds for any authorized purpose;
  3. To maintain appropriate financial records;
  4. To oversee the activities of the financial committee referred to in Article IX Section 2;
  5. To perform such other duties as may reasonably fall within this position, or as assigned by the President.

Section 7. The Faculty Advisor shall serve as the advisor to the chapter and when requested to do so by the National Council shall attest to the chapter compliance with specified provisions of the National Constitution, Bylaws, and chapter activity program and perform such other duties as may reasonably fall within this office.

Section 8. Director positions will be held by student members in good standing. The duties of the six Directors shall be as follows:

  1. The duties of the chapter DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP are:
    1. To recruit and supervise new members in the pledge process;
    2. To oversee membership at all chapter activities;
    3. To oversee the attendance standing committee;
    4. To maintain current attendance records and addresses for all current members;
    5. To perform such other duties as may reasonably fall within this position, or as assigned by the President.
  2. The duties of the chapter DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS are:
    1. To plan and coordinate the professional programs sufficient for members and pledges to meet requirements for professional hours and field trips of the chapter;
    2. To coordinate everything necessary to have the programs, including updating featured speaker display.
    3. To perform such other duties as may reasonably fall within this position, or as assigned by the President.
  3. The duties of the chapter DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS are:
    1. To inform members of all meetings, professional programs and activities through various media;
    2. To promote the chapter;
    3. To prepare a monthly calendar of events.
    4. To maintain a pictorial history of the chapter.
    5. To perform such other duties as may reasonably fall within this position, or as assigned by the President.
  4. The duties of the chapter DIRECTOR OF ONLINE PUBLICATIONS are:
    1. To maintain and update chapter website.
    2. To prepare one major newsletter a semester that will be posted on website.
    3. To perform such other duties that may reasonably fall within this position, or as assigned by the President.
  5. The duties of the chapter DIRECTOR OF SERVICE ACTIVITIES are:
    1. To plan, organize and execute service activities, sufficient for members and pledges to meet service hour requirements
  6. The duties of the chapter DIRECTOR OF ADVISORY BOARD ACTIVITIES are:
    1. To oversee all activities involving the Advisory Board;
    2. To chair the Advisory Board Committee;
    3. To plan the annual Advisory Board Conference;
    4. To correspond with the Advisory Board and facilitate chapter contact with the board;
    5. To perform such other duties as may reasonably fall within this position, or as assigned by the President.

ARTICLE VIII - ELECTIONS

Section 1. Election of officers will be held once a year at a date set by the executive committee.

Section 2. Nominations for the chapter's officers and directors will begin at least 2 meetings prior to the election. Nominations will be closed at the end of the meeting prior to elections, not including the exceptions in section 5 (d).

Section 3. Officers-elect will be installed at a BAP meeting, with retiring officers or faculty members conducting the installation.

Section 4. All positions listed in Article 7, Sections 1 through and including 6, shall be elected from the student members by a majority vote of the student members present.

Section 5. When more than two candidates are nominated to office, the following election procedures shall apply:

  1. If on the first or any subsequent ballot, any candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, said candidate shall be declared elected to office;
  2. If on the first or any subsequent ballot, no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the voting shall be repeated, including those candidates (1) receiving the largest number of votes, and (2) whose aggregate vote total constitutes a majority of the votes cast on the most recent ballot. All other nominees shall be considered eliminated from contention. This process shall be repeated until the requirement of Section 5(a) above is achieved.
  3. "Tie votes"--If a candidate must be included in a "subsequent" voting process in order to fulfill the majority requirement of Section 5(b) above, all other candidates with equal number of votes must also be included in such voting process.
  4. Officer candidates not elected will be included in subsequent officer or director nominations, if they are willing to serve. After officers have been elected, all directors will be elected concurrently.
  5. If an officer or director position has no nominations by the end of the meeting prior to elections, nominations shall stay open for that position up to the date of elections.

Section 6. All elected officials listed in Article VII will serve one (1) year terms unless graduating during the term.

Section 7. The Faculty Advisor referred to in Article VII, Section 8, will be:

  1. Appointed by the Director, School of Accountancy and approved by the membership;
  2. A full-time, tenure-tract faculty member;
  3. A member of Beta Alpha Psi or one who has made application for membership to said organization, but not a member of said organization's national council.

ARTICLE IX – AD HOC COMMITTEES

The following Ad Hoc Committees may be appointed by the Executive Committee when deemed necessary.

Section 1. The Financial Committee:

Section 2. The Social Committee:

Section 3. The Service Committee:

Section 4. The Membership and Alumni Relations Committee:

Section 5. The duties of the Faculty Relations Committee are:

Section 6. The Attendance Committee:

Section 7. The Advisory Board Committee:

ARTICLE X - SUCCESSION

Section 1. The membership will have the power to remove an officer for continued absence or failure to administer the duties of the office properly, and to elect another member to fill the vacancy thus created. The Executive Committee shall start the impeachment process by a two-thirds vote. To complete the impeachment process, a four-fifths vote will be required of the members present at a special meeting called by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. In the event of a vacancy in any office, a special election by the chapter members will be held to fill the vacated office.

ARTICLE XI - FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the chapter will end on April 30.

ARTICLE XII - AUTHORITY

Section 1. These bylaws shall be the principal governing document of the Theta Pi Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi.

Section 2. These bylaws will be subordinate to the National Constitution and Bylaws of Beta Alpha Psi. Any provision of this document that conflicts with the National Constitution and Bylaws of Beta Alpha Psi that is currently in effect will be null and void.

ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS AND SPECIAL PROVISIONS\

Section 1. This constitution and bylaws may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the members present and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting of the chapter.

Section 2. It is further understood that if this organization desires at anytime in the future to change, in any way, the provisions of these bylaws, the new bylaws, when accepted, will take precedence over the former bylaws and the former bylaws will be void.

Updated and Approved: March 3, 2005